Truss



No. 6I9,|85. Patented Feb. 7, I899. E. A. KELLUGG,

TBUSS.

(Application fllad Apr. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST A. KELLOGG, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO 7. F. WOOD, OF \VHITE CHURCH, KANSAS.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 619,185, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed April 4, 1898. Serial No. 676,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. KELLOGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to trusses; and my object is to produce a device of this character which, first,automatically in tensifies the pressure on the hernia by operation under the distention or muscular movement of the abdomen caused by lifting or from any other cause, and, secondly, is comfortable to the wearer and extremely simple, strong,du rable, and cheap of construction.

The invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and arrangement, as will be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truss as applied in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same on a smaller scale. Fig. 3 is a rear or inner face view of the hernial pad. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line IV IV of Fig. 3. In said drawings a spring rod or wire is bent so as to form the substantially U -shaped portion 1, which conforms substantially to the configuration of the abdomen, and the inverted-U-shaped side portions 2, which are opposite each other and terminate in the flattened ends or disks 3, which ends or disks of course may be formed integral with or secured to said rod or wire and in practice will preferably be covered with chamois or equivalent material.

The side or arched portions 2 are adapted to extend up over or around the wearers hips, and the fiat pads 3 are adapted to bear squarely and firmly upon the fleshy portion of the hips and are located almost in the same horizontal plane as the front or hernial pad 4. This pad is of segmental form, though its length exceeds considerably its height or width in order that it may cover all of that portion of the abdomen subject to rupture or hernial affliction. Said pad is provided with spring clasps or hooks 5, whereby it is easily and quickly secured upon or removed from the front and central part of the U-shaped portion 1, said clasps being arranged near the opposite ends of the pad and about mid way between its upper and lower margins. By this construction it is obvious that the pad may be easily adjusted endwise within certain limits upon the rod or wire and also that it may have a slight pivotal or oscillatory movement upon the same in order that under the distention or muscular action of the abdomen caused by lifting or from any other cause its upper half or portion may swing outwardly and the lower half or portion in* wardly, and thereby cause the hernial button or buttons 6 at the inner side of the pad to apply intensified pressure upon the abdominal wall around the hernia to keep the latterreduced,such pressure of course being pro portionate to the strain and the buttons being located below the pivotal line of the pad, and by preference near its ends. As it is undesirable, however, in most cases to apply a rigid or unyielding pressure, which mightinjure the wearer, I preferably construct the pad 4 of leather or equivalent material and give form and elasticity to the same by means of one or a series of springs 7, which are bowed slightly in ward and project above and below the pivotal line of the pad, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, and as the most approved mode of securing these springs in position the pad is preferably composed of two layers 8 and 9, between which the springs are secured by stitching or in any other suitable manner. These springs will be of such strength that they will yield only under a predetermined pressure, thus rendering the pad under all ordinary strains imposed practically rigid in order that it may apply a positive pressure upon the hernia; but when an excessive strain is applied the lower ends of said springs will yield outward slightly and thereby perform the function of a cushion, which will obviate any possibility of injury to the wearer, and when such strain is removed the pad automatically resumes its natural form and also adapts itself to the surface of the abdomen as the latter contracts with the removal of the strain.

It Will be noticed that owing to the peculiar configuration of, the spring rod or wire the body is in contact with the truss at only three points--viz., the points of pressure on the abdomen and fleshy portions of the hips and consequently the truss may be worn with perfect comfort.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a truss which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and it is to be understood, of course, that I reserve the right to make such changes as do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope or sacrifice any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST A. KELLOGG. \Vitnesses:

F. S. THRASHER, M. R. REMLEY. 

